Chapter 11: Hospital Date

The sterile, white walls of the hospital corridor felt cold as Alec, Lina, and Ken walked down toward the room where their latest lead awaited them. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, adding to the tense atmosphere. It had been a long, draining day filled with reports, maps, and cryptic messages. Now, they were about to meet a man who could provide them with crucial information—a man who had survived being infiltrated by one of the most dangerous tribes they were dealing with.

Ken led the way, his footsteps purposeful, his mind already on the next steps of their investigation. Alec, though, couldn’t stop thinking about the implications of what they had learned. A man who had faked his existence within a tribe for seven months? That was unheard of. And now, this same man was about to provide them with the piece of information they desperately needed.

They entered the small, dimly lit room. The man, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, sat propped up on the bed, looking a little worn but otherwise in good health. His face was rugged, with sharp features that suggested someone who had lived through far more than most people. The ID badge on his wrist read Ethan Hall, but there was no telling if that was his real name or an alias.

Ethan looked up as they entered, his eyes sharp but wary. His posture stiffened slightly, as though the weight of his past still hung heavily on his shoulders. Ken stepped forward first, extending a hand.

“You’re safe here, Ethan,” Ken said, his voice calm but insistent. “We need your help. We need to know what you’ve learned. What happened during those seven months?”

Ethan’s lips twisted into a tight smile, but it lacked any real humor. He gave a small nod before speaking in a low voice. “I was a fool. Thought I could infiltrate them, gain their trust. But they’re clever. The tribe… they know more than they let on. I thought I was in control, but they were always watching.”

Lina and Alec exchanged a glance, both curious. Ken remained silent, letting Ethan gather his thoughts. Ethan continued.

“I didn’t just join their tribe. I became part of it. I learned their ways, their customs. They… they believe in something bigger than just survival. They’re obsessed with their ‘past lives.’ They think they’re the reincarnations of powerful warlords. It’s all part of their belief system—these souls bound to fight again and again.”

Alec raised an eyebrow. “Past lives? You’re saying that they believe they’ve lived before?”

Ethan nodded slowly. “Yeah. And they think the world is out of balance. That some people—certain individuals—are the reincarnations of these warlords from the East. Warlords who once ruled over entire civilizations. The tribes believe those ‘souls’ have unfinished business. They’ll do anything to find those people, to… bring them back.”

Lina shivered, the gravity of Ethan’s words sinking in. "You mean to say that Leslie—she’s one of these... warlords?"

“I don’t know. But I do know this,” Ethan said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “There’s a couple at the prom tonight. They’re not just some ordinary couple. They’re targets. The tribe thinks they’re the reincarnations of two warlords, and they’ll stop at nothing to eliminate them.”

Alec clenched his fists. "We need to get to them first. But how do we find them?"

Ethan shook his head. "They won’t be easy to spot. The tribe will blend in. The couple, though... they won’t know they’re being hunted until it’s too late."

Ken stepped forward, his face hardening. “We’ll protect them. But we need to act fast. Where’s the prom? Give us the details.”

Ethan hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting to the window as if weighing the decision. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady but urgent.

“The prom is being held at the Grand Pavilion on the outskirts of town. It starts at 8 PM. The couple will arrive early. The tribe will be right behind them. But if you want to make it in time, you’ll have to move quickly.”

The plan was set, and the team was ready to go into action. But there was one problem that wasn’t mentioned in their brief meeting. Lina and Alec couldn’t deny the tension between them. As they made their way to the Grand Pavilion, Lina and Alec found themselves falling into conversation that was far more personal than either had expected.

“You know,” Lina said, her voice light, “I never thought I’d be doing something like this—pretending to be someone I’m not. But I guess it’s not that different from how we’ve had to live for so long, right? Constantly running, constantly hiding.”

Alec glanced at her, his gaze lingering a little longer than usual. “Yeah. It’s exhausting, always having to look over your shoulder. But... at least we’re in this together.”

Lina nodded, her eyes meeting his. “Together. That’s all that matters, right?”

Their moment of shared understanding felt strange—almost like they were standing on the edge of something more than just this mission. But neither of them spoke it aloud. The tension in the air was thick, but they both knew there was no time to dwell on it. They had to focus on the task at hand.

They arrived at the Grand Pavilion, its large, imposing structure looming ahead. Ken, Snow, Ulbort, and Ruson were already in position, blending into the crowd as backup. The mission was clear: find the couple, protect them, and keep them safe from the tribe.

Lina and Alec, however, had another challenge ahead of them: fitting in. They couldn’t exactly storm in and demand to know who the targets were. They had to blend in, become part of the scene. Alec fixed his tie in the mirror, his thoughts briefly drifting back to Lina. She looked beautiful in her dress, her eyes bright with determination. But Alec couldn’t shake the feeling that something was pulling him toward her, beyond the mission, beyond their roles in this fight.

As they entered the grand hall of the pavilion, the sound of music and chatter filled the air. The prom was in full swing, and Alec couldn’t help but notice the way Lina moved through the crowd. She was focused, scanning faces, yet there was an elegance in the way she walked—graceful, confident. For a moment, Alec found himself distracted, watching her as she spoke with one of the other guests.

It was only when he felt someone’s gaze on him that he snapped out of it. Focus, he told himself. We’re here for the couple, not for... this.

But as they continued to weave through the crowd, Alec couldn’t help but feel a strange pull toward Lina. It wasn’t just the mission anymore. There was something else, something deeper. And even though they were surrounded by danger, a part of Alec couldn’t ignore how right it felt to be by her side.